How to choose a kitchen so that you don't regret anything later

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

The kitchen is the heart and soul of any home. That is why it is so important to find the perfect headset and not repent after it is installed. The life hacker figured out how to arrange the cabinets, what materials to give preference to and what you can save well on. Only good advice that you will not hear in stores.

How to take into account all the nuances

The modern kitchen allows you to create a space that meets the individual requirements of the owner. Before you start looking for the right kitchen unit, there are a few important questions to consider:

• Does the premises need renovation? If so, it should be finished before purchasing a kitchen unit.
• Consider in detail the configuration and dimensions of the future furniture, which should not occupy more than 20% of the area of the room.
• What appliances (including built-in and small household appliances) do you need and where will it be located? Do pipes and sockets need to be moved?
• How much space do you need for storing dishes, food, homemade items? Think about how you can functionally use the available space due to corner cabinets, pull-out modules, additional shelves, additional mesh baskets.
• Think about where the dining area will be located and what kind of furniture is suitable for it. If space permits, you can put a large round table and stationary chairs. In a small kitchen, you can use a folding or pull-out table, a bar counter, stylish folding chairs.
• Are there non-standard corners, ledges, niches in the kitchen? How are you going to use them?

After the budget is calculated and the general wishes for the future kitchen are determined, you can proceed to a detailed study of the layout and the choice of materials.

Features of the kitchen layout

L-shaped kitchen

The L-shaped layout is convenient for the functional division of the kitchen space, preserving the possibility of free movement and simultaneously placing two chefs at once in the working triangle (storage area, washing area, cooking area).

This is a classic option for rooms with a shape close to a square. It is possible to optimally use hard-to-reach areas in corner cabinets using pull-out multi-level systems.

U-shaped kitchen

Suitable for rooms of sufficient size, square or rectangular, where it is necessary to place a large number of storage systems and kitchen appliances.

For comfortable operation, the optimal length of parallel lines of the kitchen should be at least one and a half and no more than two meters, and the connecting area between them should exceed 2.5 meters.

Linear kitchen

Ideal for narrow spaces less than two meters wide and 6-12 square meters in total. To effectively use the space under the countertop of the kitchen unit, you can place built-in appliances, define pull-out systems for dishes, and top cabinets for products.

For dogs or cats, order a special feeder that slides out of the lower base of the headset.

It is best to arrange the objects in this order: refrigerator, work table, sink, second work table and stove. In small kitchens, a folding dining table is mounted in the opposite wall, thereby freeing up useful space.

Island and peninsular kitchens

This layout can be considered for rooms with an area of at least 20 square meters. In traditional island kitchens, a table with a sink or stove is placed in the middle, and in the peninsular kitchens, the bar is the center. But, of course, each owner decides for himself what functions to endow his island or peninsula.

The optimal size for a free-standing working area is a square with a side of 120 cm. The standard length of the peninsula is 120–180 cm. Usually these are two or three kitchen modules 60 cm wide.

Two-row kitchen

This is the only way to make the most of an extended room. Suitable for kitchens with an area of at least 9 square meters and a width of at least 2.5 meters. After installing the kitchen unit, the width of the passage should not be less than 120 cm.

If you are tired of pens, choose the Push to open system. The doors will respond to light touches and open quietly and smoothly.

A convenient option is to place the stove and sink on one side of the kitchen and the refrigerator on the opposite side. Or, for example, you can install a refrigerator with a sink on the left wall, and a stove with a cutting table on the right.

The only drawback of the two-row layout is the lack of a well-defined dining area.

How to choose a material for a kitchen set

Building and facade of the kitchen

The most popular and budget materials for the kitchen today are MDF (fine fraction) and chipboard (chipboard). Both options allow you to make a quality product that meets environmental standards.

A special base / plinth seal will prevent moisture and dust from entering under the kitchen furniture. It can be ordered with the headset or purchased separately.

Nevertheless, it is recommended to use MDF for facades and enclosures, which can be covered with plastic, veneer, enamel, acrylic or PVC film. This material is relatively inexpensive, its structure is as similar to natural wood as possible. And due to a variety of impregnations and components, MDF has properties that are important for an aggressive kitchen environment: good resistance to fungi and mold, moisture resistance, excellent tolerance to high temperatures.

By the way, about temperatures. Be sure to leave gaps of 2.5 cm between the stove (does not apply to built-in appliances, which are equipped with a special cooling system) and adjacent kitchen modules. This will improve ventilation and protect the headset. The resulting gap can be closed with special overlays.

Glossy facades look very impressive, but they quickly become covered with fingerprints and require daily maintenance. Give preference to matte surfaces.

If you have chosen a kitchen with non-standard or expensive facades, then when receiving an order, play it safe and be sure to check their number, size and curvature. Even if company representatives assure that everything is in order. After you sign the documents on receipt of the kitchen, it will be problematic to prove the presence of a marriage.

Table top

For work surfaces, it is better to choose a worktop with a thickness of 6-10 cm, and for dining tables, 4 cm is enough.

Remember that the load on the table top should not exceed 23 kg.

The most practical material will be artificial stone. It is much lighter and more economical than natural counterparts, but no less durable. Artificial stone allows you to imitate any breed and create smooth countertops of a wide variety of shapes without visible joints and seams.

Kitchen apron

The apron protects the walls of the working area from moisture, splashes of grease, burning and other types of contamination. The average height of the apron is 48–60 cm. The ideal material in terms of price, quality and durability is ceramics, which will serve you for several decades.

If the budget is limited, you can buy an inexpensive kitchen set in pastel colors, and choose the most effective premium apron as a design accent. He will add zest to the interior.

How to rationally use the kitchen space

The most appropriate option for the kitchen is a spacious wall cabinet with a folding door that opens upwards. In this model you can place a dryer, shelves for storing food and dishes.

If the kitchen has drywall interior partitions, they are unlikely to withstand the weight of the cabinets. But rails with hooks, mesh shelves, holders for glasses and paper towels are quite.

Use drawers and baskets, which can be complemented with a smart accessory system to neatly store your kitchen utensils and small items.

Corner drawers running diagonally to the far corner of the wall are an excellent solution. Due to their unique design, they hold three times more items than conventional boxes.

Your headset will last much longer if the drawers are made using metaboxes (metal sides). Chipboard boxes will quickly become unusable due to moisture and the severity of the dishes.

Install systems with a carousel in a corner cabinet - shelves that rotate around a rigidly fixed vertical rod. This will save usable space and greatly facilitate storing utensils in a hard-to-reach place.

What can you save on when buying a kitchen

• Art Nouveau kitchens with sleek, laconic facades are much cheaper than classics with sophisticated finishes, grilles and stained glass inserts.
• A standard kitchen not made to order is 25-30% cheaper.
• Calculate carefully the cabinet widths you need. For example, a kitchen module 80 cm wide will be 5-10% cheaper than two 40 cm cabinets. Take advantage of free interactive programs to create kitchen designs and calculate the cost of furniture.
• Modules with one hinged door are cheaper than modules with two.
• Cabinets with a standard height of 60 cm are 10–20% cheaper than modules with a height of 72 or 92 cm.
• Discard some of the expensive wall cabinets by diluting them with shelves and comfortable and roomy tables.
• Follow the promotions of major kitchen furniture manufacturers. Websites often feature headsets that can be purchased at a special price. Sometimes the discount can reach 60–70%. By the way, inexpensive kitchens from the stand can also be bought at furniture exhibitions.
• Put high-quality, reliable and convenient fittings on those lockers that you will most often use. Expensive rails can be placed on the heaviest and deepest drawers for pots, pans and groceries. For everything else, you can choose cheaper options.
• You don't have to buy expensive handles for kitchen furniture. The main thing is that they are galvanized.
• You should not buy a kitchen with all the appliances at once. Separately purchased devices will cost an average of 30% less. In addition, you will be able to choose the right configuration.
• Have you thought of all the details of the future kitchen set? Take your time to order it. First, ask several companies to calculate the cost and draw up a detailed specification of the kitchen. Take your time and look for reviews on kitchen furniture manufacturers. Read the contract carefully in a relaxed home environment, find out all the nuances.

What you need to remember when concluding a contract

• The contract must be accompanied by a specification indicating the articles, sizes and cost of all elements of the kitchen.
• A sketch of a kitchen set with the signature of the manager who drew up the design project is also an integral part of the contract.
• When buying a kitchen, ask for a sales receipt and keep it for the entire warranty period (usually two years).
• The contract must indicate the timing of the manufacture of furniture and the amount of penalties in case of delay.
• Conclude a separate legal document for the installation and installation of the kitchen unit in order to be able to bring the company (store) to justice. Be sure to check whether the installation price includes the connection of a sink, mixer, or hood. Ask if the company has a service department to fulfill the warranty and post-warranty obligations.
• If the company (store) hires private individuals, find out who will bear the warranty if the assembler does not get in touch or damage was caused during the installation of the kitchen (for example, neighbors were flooded due to a pipe break).

Did everything suit you? Then congratulations in advance on purchasing a new kitchen that will serve you for years to come!